Animal-trap.



J. SLEPICKA.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.22, $918.

1 ,284,483. Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

INVENATOR q Jose h Slepic'ka WITNESSES m: uonms runs 004 InOm-Lltna. WASNINKJON. u. c

JOSEPH SLEPIGKA, 0F TOBIAS, NEBRASKA ANIMAL-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12,

Application filed April 22, 1918. Serial No. 230,128.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SLEPIGKA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tobias, in the county of Saline and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to animal traps and has for its object the production of a simple and efiicient animal trap which is especially designed for the purpose of catching small animals such as squirrels and gophers.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and eflicient means for. tripping the spring jaw of the trap as soon as the tripping plate of the trap is forced downwardly.

lVith these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the trap,

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section therethrough,

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the trap.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that 1 designates the base of the trap which is preferably formed of sheet metal and is provided with a pair of downwardly extending side flanges 2. These flanges 2 are provided with upwardly inclined under edges 3 as shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings, for the purpose of permitting the base 1 to normally rest at an angle with respect to the ground upon which the device is resting,

' when the trap is in a set position.

A hanger bracket A is secured tothe under face of the base 1 as shown in Flg's. 2 and 3 of the drawings, and a tripping plate 5 is' pivotally mounted upon the hanger bracket at by having its downwardly folded flange portions 6 pivotally mounted upon the hanger bracket 4 by means of a plvot pm 7. The entire base 1, as well as the tripping plate 5 is preferably formed of sheet metal which is capable of being easily bent, in this way greatly cheapening the construction of the device and also rendering the same easy to manufacture. The tripping plate 5 is provided with a substantially semicircular tripping tread portion 8 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, and this tripping plate 5 works within a cut out portion or notch 9 formed in the base or body 1. The trip-- ping plate 5 is preferably mounted upon the pivot pm 7 1n such a manner as to extend abovethe upper face of the base 1, when the tripping plate 5 is placed in an operativeposition, in this way permitting the tripping plate 5 to be easily engaged by means of the latching link 10. I I

The latching link 10 is secured to the base 1 by means of eye portions 11, which eye.

portions 11 extend through an aperture 12 formed in the base 1 near the rear end of the The base 1 may be secured or anchored in any suitable or desired manner to a simple connecting means through the medium of the connecting chain 14 as shown in Figs, 1 and 2 of the drawings. A spring closure jaw 15 is carried upon 'a transversely extending squared shaft 16 as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3' of the drawings and this shaft 16 is mounted or journaled upon the flanges 2 so as to easily rotate thereon. The jaw 15 is preferably U-shaped in form and has its inner end 17 firmly connected or fitted over the squared end of the shaft 16. A pair of coil springs 18 are wound around the respective ends of the shaft 16 and these springs.

18 are secured at their inner ends to the base land have their outer ends 19 extend ing through the slots 20 formed in the base 1 and overhanging the upper edges ofthe side arms of the spring jaws 15 as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Byconsidering the drawings, it will be seen that these springs 18 will normally exert a downward pressure upon the jaw 15 for forcing the same firmly upon the. outer end :of'thecasing 1, or to a closed position.

A trigger supporting yoke 21 is secured firmly to the supporting shaft 16 and this yoke 21 is provided with a narrowed outer end 22, the outer end 22 supporting a trigger finger 23. This trigger finger 23 is provided with an angularly extending end 2 1,

the angularl i' extendin end 24- being provided with a notch 5 for the purpose or receiving the latching linl; 10. T his trigger 23 is adapted to work through a slot 26 formed in the base 1 as shown in Fig. l for the purpose of engaging the link 10 and holding the linlr 10 in firm engagement with the tripping plate 5 as shown in Fig.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The jaw 15 is swung to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the latching link 10 is swung into the position shown in F for the purpose of overhang ng the outer end of the trigger end '23, the link 10 fitting within the notch of the trigger This link 10 then extends under the inner end or the rolled portion 13 ot the tripping plate 5, in this wa holdin the tripping plate 5 in a proper position for supoorting a suital'ile bait whicl'i ma be placed thereon. As soon as an animal steps or treads upon the tripping plate 5, the tripping plate the "ed portion thereof will be disengaged from the inner end of the link 10. A non as the link 10 is released from the tripping plate 5, the coil spring 18 carried by the shaft 16 will cause the shaft 16 to be rotated, therelo throwing the jaw 15 firmly upon or over the outer end of the base 1 and trapping an animal whi h has stepped over or upc the tripping plate 5. This downward spi ing of the jaw 15 will be permitted due to the fact that the link 10 will be released at its outer end, thereby permitting the trigger 23 to assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. i of the drawings. t e link 10 b' thrown to the pos' Eon shown in dott i l ron'i the 'torcgo ng descript on, it 0 ill seen that. a very s i has been produced mal trap which ma be V9175 structed and s; rich will be Yer, operation, the same aulomatiol .7 H g to a closed or trapped position as soon as an animal steps upon the tripping plate 5.

hat is claimed is:

1. An animal trap of the class described comprising a base termed from s icet metal. said base provided with a pair or". side depending flanges, said flanges provided with an upwardl inclined lower edge upon the forward ends thereof. a jaw hingedl secured to said base. a trigger supporting arm connected to said jaw and adapted to extend downwardly at an angle from said base for supporting said base at an angle upon the e and enicient meal in the nature of anifor holding said aw in an op n position.

2. A trap of the class described comprising a base, a tripping plate carried thereby, a hinged bracket secured to said base, a set tripping plate pror led with a reduced shank. said sh nk prorided wi h a pair of depending in grai side means ex tending through s id 'rlan and piiotally securing the same to said han r bracket, said base proiided wih ap are formed therein, said tripping plate extending l rough said aperture. the swin g jaw carried by said base, and 1 1 i a i the ground and hold one enl ot said base above the ground when said aw is in an open position, a tripping means, a trigger carried by said base, and means cooperating with said jaw and engaging saidirigger whereby said jaw will beheld in an open posi ion when said tri ger engages said last mentioned i'z'lfifl. is.

i. A trap of the class described comprising a base, a tripping plate carried thereby, jaw mounted upon said base, a shaft sup porting sa d jaw, spring means carried by said shaft and engaging said jaw for nor really SYClflQ' Dg the same to a closed position upon said base, a yoke secured to said she: and adapted to project below said frame and constituting a support for el vating one end of said base when said jaw is swung to an open position, a trigger member extending upward l i' from said yoke, a looking linl: mounted upon said base and adapted to engage the upper end of said trigger member for holdin said jaw in an ope position. and said trippin plate provided n .th means for engaging one end of said base for releasabl v holding said link in an operative position.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JQSEPH SLEPICZKA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G. 

